August 08, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 23, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 7: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is still waiting for the schedule of the Afghanistan women’s team, which has been invited to take part in the 3rd Pakistan women’s championship to be held in Islamabad from Aug 16.

Secretary PFF, Ahmad Yar Lodhi, said that Afghanistan had confirmed its participation in the national championship but despite reminders, they have not sent their visiting schedule to the federation.

“We would really like to host the Afghanistan women’s team in the national championship and the federation will provide them with all facilities here. Certainly their participation will also make the national event more competitive and attractive,” he said.

“Like Pakistan, women’s soccer in Afghanistan is also in its nascent stages and their participation will help us know about the standards of the game of our women,” he said.

Lodhi pointed out that a German women coach, Monika Staab was also in Pakistan, conducting the last phase of three clinics for women in Lahore, and as she would also be assisting Pakistan to select a national team from the national championship, the participation of the Afghan team could help her a lot in picking the best team.

About men’s football, Lodhi said Pakistan are to face Iraq, the new Asian champions this month, in the World Cup qualifiers.

“Though we have less chances to beat the Asian champions Iraq, the match will provide great entertainment to the spectators. Besides our team will get good experience as well,” he said.

“We also expect good performance from our boys in the home tie against Iraq, since they have played impressively before the local crowd in the recent matches against Bahrain, Qatar and Singapore in the Olympics qualifiers,” he said.

Iraq, who defeated Saudi Arabia in the Asia Cup, will play their away home match against Pakistan on Oct 8. But it will host Pakistan either in Jordan or Qatar, due to security problems at homeland.

The PFF secretary has welcomed the FIFA decision of holding the home matches of the qualifiers of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine at a neutral venue, due to security reasons. He said Pakistan was likely to play away home tie against Iraq in Qatar.

He said to pick a strong team against Iraq, the performance of the players in the ongoing league would be considered.

“The PFF will definitely give more chances to the players of Under-21 team which had recently played Olympic qualifier matches against Bahrain, Qatar, Singapore and Jordan,” he said.

The PFF has almost stopped the activities of the senior team, giving priority to the Under-21 with a hope to raise a strong team for future.